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be directly and closely involved in any decision as to whether or
not state of emergency has arisen.
29.
China's refusal to put off promulgation of Basic Law
Our most important objective is that Basic Law should command
confidence in Hong Kong. Hope Chinese authorities will appreciate
need for confidence is all the greater in view of what has happened.
30. National People's Congress should not have power to interpret
Basic Law
Article 157 of draft Basic Law, which deals with power of
interpretation, will need to be carefully reconsidered.
There are genuine worries about this article in Hong Kong and a
way must be found to allay them.
31.
Establishment of Joint Constitutional Court
We have noted Foreign Affairs Committee's recommendation that a
'Joint Constitutional Court' should be established to interpret
Basic Law. We will be giving our considered response to that
proposal in due course.
32. Pace of democratisation should be speeded up
Recent events in China have inevitably caused Hong Kong people to think deeply about this question. This is something I have been
discussing with Governor and his advisers and with a wide range of Hong Kong opinion during my visit.
We and Hong Kong Government will be looking very carefully at
programme for advancing and consolidating effective democracy in
territory.
Have always sought to develop democracy in line with wishes of
community as a whole and to ensure that what is achieved under
British administration endures after 1997. These will remain our
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